Agenda item

Mr Steven Garner, Healthwatch Blackpool Manager presented his report to the Board, which included information about a number of reports that had been prepared following Healthwatch Blackpool reviews and consultations.  He explained that a response to the Substance Misuse report was still outstanding despite the 11 July deadline, but a response to the Dentistry report had been received and would be forward to Board Members separately.  The Board was advised that the reviews of the Brooklands Care Home and The ARC (Rehabilitation Centre) were being finalised and would be forwarded to Board Members and the service provider shortly.

The Board was informed of the first Listening Event, focusing on Mental Health and involving professionals and service users and carer to look at short and long-term changes to improve mental health services.  Mr Garner explained that the event was not representative, but had provided learning opportunities and a draft report had been produced for the Board’s consideration.

Included in the agenda was the Priorities Public Consultation report, with the top five responses being GP Surgeries, Emergency Services, Adult Mental Health, Blackpool Hospitals and Care Homes.  Mr Garner explained that those priorities would form the proposed work plan for Healthwatch Blackpool with reviews being undertaken as follows:

July and August 2016: Care Homes

September and October 2016: Blackpool Teaching Hospitals

November and December 2016: Adult Mental Health Services

January and February 2017: GP Surgeries

March and April 2017: Emergency Services

Dr Davis offered to provide guidance to Mr Garner in the planning stages of the reviews to ensure comprehensive data was collected to enable the impact of any recommendations/ suggestions to be effectively reviewed at a future date.  It was suggested that past reviews should be revisited to assess the impact of Healthwatch Blackpool on service providers.

Mr Garner reported that the Lancashire Care Foundation Trust (LCFT) Adult Mental Health Services was due to be inspected by the Care Quality Commission in September 2016 and it was felt that Healthwatch Blackpool could assist with any resulting action plan to provide the public voice.

The Board was advised that a meeting to discuss a Memorandum of Understanding with Healthwatch Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen had been arranged, following The Harbour review and this would be shared with the Board at a future meeting.

The Board agreed:

1.      To adopted the proposed work plan.

2.      To approve the Annual Report 2015/ 2016.

3.      To note the Operational Leads’ report.